RAVENS RUN OFFENSE VS. TEXANS RUN DEFENSE

It was a banner season for Ravens running back Ray Rice, who posted a career-best and an NFL-high 2,068 yards from scrimmage, set a team record with 15 total touchdowns and was selected for his second career Pro Bowl team. He carried the Ravens' offense late in the season, rushing for 100 yards or more in four of the final seven games and scoring seven touchdowns during that stretch. Thanks to Rice's late-season surge, the Ravens finished 10th in the NFL in rushing at 124.8 yards per game after they were ranked 26th in that category as late as Week 13. Rice rushed for 101 yards on 23 carries in the Ravens' 29-14 victory over the Texans in Week 6. The Texans haven't allowed a 100-yard rusher since. Overall, Houston is ranked fourth in the NFL in rush defense, holding opposing backs to 96 yards per game. They limited the Cincinnati Bengals' Cedric Benson to 14 yards on seven carries last week. One interesting subplot is Ravens fullback Vonta Leach's matchup with former teammates Brian Cushing and DeMeco Ryans, the Texans' two talented inside linebackers. Cushing (above) has a team-high 114 tackles and leads an aggressive and quick Texans linebacking group. EDGE: EVEN

It was a banner season for Ravens running back Ray Rice, who posted a career-best and an NFL-high 2,068 yards from scrimmage, set a team record with 15 total touchdowns and was selected for his second career Pro Bowl team. He carried the Ravens' offense late in the season, rushing for 100 yards or more in four of the final seven games and scoring seven touchdowns during that stretch. Thanks to Rice's late-season surge, the Ravens finished 10th in the NFL in rushing at 124.8 yards per game after they were ranked 26th in that category as late as Week 13. Rice rushed for 101 yards on 23 carries in the Ravens' 29-14 victory over the Texans in Week 6. The Texans haven't allowed a 100-yard rusher since. Overall, Houston is ranked fourth in the NFL in rush defense, holding opposing backs to 96 yards per game. They limited the Cincinnati Bengals' Cedric Benson to 14 yards on seven carries last week. One interesting subplot is Ravens fullback Vonta Leach's matchup with former teammates Brian Cushing and DeMeco Ryans, the Texans' two talented inside linebackers. Cushing (above) has a team-high 114 tackles and leads an aggressive and quick Texans linebacking group. EDGE: EVEN (Getty photo)

It was a banner season for Ravens running back Ray Rice, who posted a career-best and an NFL-high 2,068 yards from scrimmage, set a team record with 15 total touchdowns and was selected for his second career Pro Bowl team. He carried the Ravens' offense late in the season, rushing for 100 yards or more in four of the final seven games and scoring seven touchdowns during that stretch. Thanks to Rice's late-season surge, the Ravens finished 10th in the NFL in rushing at 124.8 yards per game after they were ranked 26th in that category as late as Week 13. Rice rushed for 101 yards on 23 carries in the Ravens' 29-14 victory over the Texans in Week 6. The Texans haven't allowed a 100-yard rusher since. Overall, Houston is ranked fourth in the NFL in rush defense, holding opposing backs to 96 yards per game. They limited the Cincinnati Bengals' Cedric Benson to 14 yards on seven carries last week. One interesting subplot is Ravens fullback Vonta Leach's matchup with former teammates Brian Cushing and DeMeco Ryans, the Texans' two talented inside linebackers. Cushing (above) has a team-high 114 tackles and leads an aggressive and quick Texans linebacking group. EDGE: EVENGetty photo